After having fled the state over redistricting legislation, Democratic lawmakers had to agree to have security escorts to leave the chamber. Now, a number are refusing.

A group of Texas Democrats are returning to the state House in Austin where they will spend the night — the latest step in a broader protest over Republican plans to redraw congressional districts in the state.

The state House Democratic caucus said in a news release that eight of its members will return to the floor Tuesday evening, “publicly tearing up the permission slips required by Republicans for members to leave the chamber.”

The Democrats will join state Rep. Nicole Collier, their colleague who has remained locked in the state House chamber since Monday afternoon after she refused the condition of a security escort to leave the chamber.

  • dcpDarkMatter@kbin.earth
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    2 days ago

    The TX legislature is a part time job and gets paid hardly anything. Most reps have normal, regular jobs, not to mention a spouse, children, and all that stuff.

    Can you fork over $500 a day when you’re not at work?

    While I would have loved for them to stay away longer, trying to act like it was just a matter of cojones is horrendously naive.

    • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      This is absolutely something the party apparatus should’ve funded. If they can figure out a thousand ways to funnel campaign contributions to a thousand other endeavors, they can figure out how to pay for a few dozen people to stay in Illinois for 6 months. We’re talking a microscopic amount of money when compared to campaign advertising and consultants.

    • timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      All these people upset about elected Democrats when a fuck ton more don’t take the time to just go vote.

      Perhaps people are placing blame in the wrong place.